Meter box lid with snap fit passage

ABSTRACT

The lid is used to cover a utility box which houses a meter such as a water meter. The lid is compression molded from a plastic material such as medium density polyethylene, and has a planar upper surface and a planar lower surface. In one embodiment, a plurality of generally parallel spaced apart recesses are formed in the lower surface. The recesses are spaced inward of the outer edges of the lid. The area of the lower surface of the lid is greater than the total area of the recesses in the plane of the lower surface. In another embodiment, an opening leading to a cavity is formed in the edge of the lid with a press fit passage for receiving a transponder device.

This application is a divisional patent application of application Ser.No. 10/417,319, filed Apr. 16, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,968,969 whichapplication was a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 09/579,630, filed May 26, 2000.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a removable lid for covering a utility box suchas a water meter box.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

In the past, utility boxes such as water meter boxes have been made ofconcrete or plastic with lids formed of the same material. U.S. Pat.Nos. 2,883,853, 4,163,503, 4,726,490, 5,423,448, 5,394,601, and5,791,098 disclose different types of lids.

Meter box lids also have been employed for holding transponder devicesfor enabling personnel to read water meters from a distance withoutleaving the utility truck. One transponder device used comprises a discfor supporting an electromagnetic receiver and transmitter apparatus anda stem attached thereto for enclosing components to be attached to themeter. Some of the lids are formed of concrete or plastic and have aslot molded in its outer edge for holding the transponder device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a new and useful, strong,heavy duty lid for a utility box and which may be used on concrete orplastic boxes. The lid in one embodiment comprises a member formed of aplastic material with elongated recesses formed in the lower surfacewhich minimizes breakage of the lid. The recesses are spaced inward ofthe outer edges of the lid member. The recesses are generally parallelto each other and have lengths equal to a substantial portion of thelength of the lid along which the recesses extend.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a lid for a utilitybox which has a cavity formed in its edge which defines a lower wall forsupporting the disc shaped housing of a transponder device of the typehaving a stem connected to the housing. The lower wall has an opening incommunication with the cavity and a smaller passage for receiving thestem of the transponder device. At least one edge of the passage isresilient which allows the stem to be pushed through the passage intothe opening. The edge of the passage then returns to its normal state tohold the stem in the opening and hence the housing in the cavity duringthe intended use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the upper side of one of the lids of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates the lower side of the lid of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates the upper side of another lid of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates the lower side of the lid of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 illustrates the upper side of another lid of the invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates the lower side of the lid of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 illustrates the upper side of another lid of the invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates the lower side of the lid of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 taken along lines 9-9thereof.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 taken along lines 10-10thereof.

FIG. 11 illustrates the bottom side of another lid of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a reduced drawing of the top side of the lid of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is an edge view of a cavity of the lid of FIG. 11 for holding atransponder device.

FIG. 14 is an isometric bottom view of the cavity of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is an edge view of the transponder device cavity with atransponder device supported in the cavity.

FIG. 16 is a view of the bottom side of the lid of FIG. 11 illustratingthe transponder device located in the cavity.

FIG. 17 is a view similar to that of FIG. 14 illustrating thetransponder device located in the cavity.

FIG. 18 is an isometric view of the transponder device of FIGS. 15, 16,and 17.

FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of the passageway leading to the opening forreceiving the stem of a transponder device.

FIG. 20 is a cross-section of FIG. 11 as seen along lines 20-20 thereof.

FIG. 21 is a cross-section of FIG. 11 as seen along lines 21-21 thereof.

FIG. 22 is a plan view of the lower side of another lid of theinvention.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of the lid of FIG. 22 as seen alonglines 23-23 thereof.

FIG. 24 is a plan view of the lower side of another lid of theinvention.

FIG. 25 is an isometric view of the lower side of the lid of FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 is a plan view of the upper side of the lid of FIG. 24.

FIG. 27 is a view of the lid of FIG. 24 as seen along lines 27-27thereof.

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view of the lid of FIG. 24 as seen alonglines 28-28 thereof.

FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view of the lid of FIG. 24 as seen alonglines 29-29 thereof.

FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view of the lid of FIG. 24 as seen alonglines 30-30 thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1-10 of the drawings there is shown four lids 21,21M, 61, and 61M which are compression molded from a suitable plasticmaterial such as medium density polyethylene. Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 9and 10, the lid 21 comprises an upper side having a flat or planar uppersurface 21U and a lower side having a flat or planar lower surface 21L.The upper and lower sides are rectangular with four edges 21A, 21B, 21C,and 21D. Formed in the lower surface 21L during the molding operationare two identical elongated, parallel recesses 23 and two identical,square recesses 27 and 29. The recesses 23 have outer edges 23A, 23B,23C, 23D. The recess 27 has outer edges 27A, 27B, 27C, 27D. The recess29 has outer edges 29A, 29B, 29C, 29D. Formed in the upper surface 21Uduring the molding process are two identical, circular recesses 31 and33 which are generally aligned with the two square recesses 27 and 29respectively. Also formed on each edge 21A, 21B, 21C and 21D are twospaced apart wedges 37 or lugs which extend outward from the uppersurface 21U and taper downward to the lower surface 21L. The wedges 37may be shaved or cut to the desired shape in order to allow the lid tofit into the top opening of the utility box. Also molded or drilledthrough the lid 21 is a finger hole 39 for gripping purposes to moreeasily allow the lid to be fitted to or removed from the utility box.

The purpose of the recesses 23 is to minimize breakage of the lid andthe purpose of the recesses 27, 29 and 31, 33 is to receive remotereading equipment in the interior of the utility box and on the top ofthe lid 21. Apertures will be formed through the lid to provide anopening between the recesses 27 and 31 and to provide an opening betweenrecesses 29 and 33 to allow connection between the interior and exteriorequipment.

In one embodiment, the dimensions L1, L2, L3, L4, H1, H2, H3, H4, W1,W2, W3 and D in inches are about 16½, 14½, 10½, 12½, 1½, 1, 14/16, ¼, 2,2½, 4¾, and 5 respectively.

Lids similar to lid 21 were produced but they did not have the recesses23. If these lids were dropped on a hard surface, the lids would crackin some instances. Also when a high vertical pressure was applied to thelids when they were supported at the outer edges, they would break. Theproblem was solved however, by forming the recesses 23 during themolding process. The lid of FIGS. 1, 2, 9, 10 was tested by dropping iton a hard surface and by applying a high pressure to its upper surface21U with the outer edges of its lower surface 21L supported by means andthe lid did not crack or break. It is believed that the improved resultswere obtained since the recesses 23 allowed a better heat transfer ofthe hot flowable plastic during the molding process and they enhancedcuring of the plastic. The recesses 27 and 29 have solved the priorproblem at least on the side of the lid on which they are located. Thearea of the lower surface 21L is greater than the total area of therecesses 23, 27, and 29 in the plane of the surface 21L.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the lid 21M is similar to lid 21 except thatit does not have recesses 27, 29, 31, 33; or the opening 39; it has anopening 43 formed through the lid at its central portion with a cover 45hinged to the upper surface 21U to allow manual reading of the meter inthe utility box and it has three identical excesses 23. In FIGS. 3 and4, the same reference numerals as used in FIGS. 1, 2, 9, and 10 identifythe same components and except for the differences mentioned above. Thedimensions of lid 21M are the same as lid 21. Referring to FIG. 4, theouter recesses 23 are spaced about 2½ inches from the central recess 23.The opening 43 may have side dimensions in inches of 3¾×6⅞. The lid 21Mis compression molded from a plastic material such as medium densitypolyethylene.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the lid 61 is compression molded from asuitable plastic such as medium density polyethylene. It is similar tolid 21M except that it is longer; it does not have the central opening43; it has 4 spaced recesses 23 and five spaced rows of circularrecesses 63 in its lower side. The lid 61 has a flat or planar uppersurface 61U, a flat or planar lower surface 61L; edges 61A, 61B, 61C,61D; and wedges 67. The length, width, and height of the lid 61 ininches may be 26½, 15, and 1½ respectively. The recesses 23 have thesame dimensions as recesses 23 of FIGS. 1 and 2. In the embodiment ofFIGS. 5 and 6, adjacent recesses 23 may be spaced 3 inches apart. Theround recesses 63 may have a diameter of 2¼ of an inch and a depth of ¾of an inch. Recesses 63 help perform the function of recesses 23.

Apertures 65 and 67 extend through the lid 61 and are used as a touchread hole for use for reading the meter in the box and as a finger holerespectively.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the lid 61M is compression molded from asuitable plastic material such as medium density polyethylene. The lid61M is similar to the lid 61 except that it has a central opening 71with a hinged cover 73 for use for manual reading of the meter in thebox. Apertures 65 and 67 are not employed and have in their place twocircular recesses 63. In FIGS. 7 and 8, the same reference numeralsidentify the same components as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The dimension ofthe lid 61M may be the same as those of lid 61.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-10 the lengths of the recesses 23 are equalto a substantial portion of the length of the lid along which therecesses extend and are greater than one half of said lengths of the lidand are a little greater than ¾ of said lengths of the lid. For eachlid, the area of the lower surface also is greater than the total areaof the recesses 23 in the plane of the lower surfaces of the lid.

The median density range of the polyethylene used in forming the lids ofFIGS. 1-10 is 0.938-0.942.

Compression load tests were carried out on the lid of FIGS. 1-6, 9, 10and on the lid of FIGS. 7 and 8. The tests were performed utilizing a9″×9″ steel plate placed on the lid center. Prior to testing, eachsample was placed on steel blocks around the perimeter of the lid tosimulate the lip of the meter box.

Tests were performed on three lids of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, 9,10. The three lids tested withstood a total load in pounds of 9380;12,230; 8,910, respectively.

The lid of FIGS. 7 and 8 had a length of 26 inches and a width similarto that of lid 61. Tests were performed on two lids of the embodiment ofFIGS. 7 and 8. The two lids tested withstood a total load in pounds of14,070; 12,070, respectively.

It appears that the lid of FIGS. 7 and 8 withstood a greater load sinceit did not have the recesses 27, 29, 31, 33 of the lid of FIGS. 1-4, 9,10.

The lids described with respect to FIGS. 1-10 are all rectangular inshape. The plastic lids however may be circular or oblong in shape withplanar upper and lower surfaces. All of the lids of FIGS. 1-10 have atleast two parallel recesses 23 formed in their lower surfaces. Thelengths of at least one of the recesses 23 will be equal to asubstantial portion of the length of the lid along which the recessextends and greater than one half of said length of the lids. Inaddition, the area of the lower surface greater than the total area ofthe recesses 23 in the plane of the lower surfaces of the lid.

Referring now to FIGS. 11-21, the lid is identified by reference numeral121. It is compression molded from a suitable plastic material such asmedian density polyethylene. The lid comprises an upper side having aflat or planar upper surface 121U and a lower side having a flat orplanar lower surface 121L. The upper and lower sides are rectangularwith four edges 121A, 121B, 121C, 121D. Formed in the lower surfaceduring the molding process are three parallel recesses 123, 125, 127.The recess 123 has four edges 123A, 123B, 123C, 125D at the surface121L. The recess 125 has four edges 125A, 125B, 125C, 125D at thesurface 121L. The recess 127 has four edges 127A, 127GB, 127C, 127D atthe surface 121L. Formed on each of edges 121A and 121C are wedges orlugs 137 which extend outward from the upper surface 121U and taperdownward to the lower surface 121L as seen in FIG. 21. The wedges 137may be shaved or cut to the desired shape in order to allow the lid tofit into the top opening of the utility box. Also drilled through thelid 121 is a finger hole 139 for gripping purposes to more easily allowthe lid to be fitted to or removed from the utility box.

The purpose of the recesses 123, 125, 127 is to enhance curing of theplastic during the forming process and hence to minimize breakage of thelid as discussed previously with respect to the lids of FIGS. 1-10. Itis believed that improved results were obtained since the recessesallowed a better heat transfer of the hot flowable plastic during themolding process and enhanced curing of the plastic.

The inside surfaces of the recesses are formed in a manner to strengthenthe lid. In this respect surfaces 123S1, 123S2; 125S1, 125S2; 127S1,127S2 form triangles. Surfaces 123S3, 123S4; 125S3, 125S4; 127S3, 127S4form trapezoids. The four surfaces of each recess 123, 125, 127 slantupward from the lower surface 121L and meet at the three apexes 123AP,125AP, 127AP respectively and act to provide support and strengthen thelid even though the recesses result in less lid material. Recesses 125and 127 are shaped in a manner similar to that of recess 123 exceptrecess 127 is longer than recess 123.

In one embodiment, the length of each of the edges 123A, 123C, 125A,125C, 127A, 127C is about two inches. The length of each of edges 123B,123D, 125B, 125D is about 6½ inches. The length of edges 127B, 127C isabout 13.5 inches. The height of each of the recesses 123, 125, 127 fromthe surface 121L to their apexes 123AP, 125AP, 127AP is about 14/16 ofan inch. The width W and length L of the lid 121 are about 10 and 14.75inches respectively. The height H of the lid 121 is about 1.75 inches.

The total surface area of the lower side 121L outside of the recesses123, 125, 127 and outside of the opening 141, 151, 157, 159 is greaterthan the area of the recesses 123, 125, 127 and the opening 141, 151,157, 159 in the plane surface 121L. The lid 121 between the surfaces ofrecesses 123, 127, and most of 125 and the upper surface 121U is solidplastic.

An opening 141 extends inward below the upper surface 121U from the twoedges 121C and 121D to a cavity 141C which is the only cavity formed inthe lid. The opening 141 comprises an upper wall 143, having a roundedside wall 145 extending from edges 121C and 121D and a lower wall 147which forms a shelf. The cavity 141C is defined by the walls 145 and 147and an interior partially circular wall 141CC. The lower wall 147 has anopening 151 defined by wall portions 153A and 155A which extend inwardfrom edges 121C and 121D and lead to side walls 153B and 155B defining apassageway 157 which leads to a stem opening 159. The purpose of thecavity 141C is to receive the housing of a transponder device to besupported by the shelf 147 with the stem of the transponder deviceextending downward through the stem opening 159. A transponder device ofthis type is shown at 161 at FIGS. 15, 16, 17 and 18. The housing is adisc shaped housing member 163 having an upper central wall portion 165formed of plastic, an outer upper wall portion 167 formed of metal, abottom wall portion 169 formed of metal, and an elongated annular stem171 formed of metal extending downward from the bottom wall 169. Thediameter of the stem 171 tapers slightly from the wall 169 to its end171E. A transponder device of this type is commercially available fromItron, Inc. as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,218,995B1 which patent isincorporated herein by reference.

The purpose of the transponder device is to read the output of i.e. awater meter located in the ground in the meter box which supports thelid. Electrical leads extend downward through the stem 171. Equipmentpowered by a battery will read the output of the water meter andtransmit its output to the equipment in the housing when activated.Reading can be accomplished by sending a radio signal for example from avehicle on the road to activate the transponder device which in turnwill send a signal to the equipment in the vehicle to obtain a record ofthe amount of water used by the homeowner or business during the month.Since the lid 121 is formed of plastic, the transponder device canreceive and transmit electromagnet signals through the plastic.

It is desirable that some means be provided to hold the transponderdevice in the cavity. Moreover, the manufacturer of the transponderdevice has indicated that the upper side 165 of the transponder deviceshould be located at least ⅛ of an inch below the surface of the wall143 of the cavity 141. A separate wedge could be used to wedge thetransponder device in the cavity, however, this is undesirable since itis one more thing that field personnel would have to carry in locatingand holding the transponder device in the cavity. In addition, theinstaller may push the wedge in with too much force and damage thetransponder and the wedge in place may apply to much pressure to thetransponder and damage or alter the performance of the transponder.

A snap or pressure fit is provided for holding the base 171 of thetransponder device 161 in the opening 159 and hence the housing 163 ofthe transponder device 161 in the cavity 141C. This is accomplished byforming thin lips 153BL and 155BL at the side edges 153B and 155B at thebottom shelf on each side of the passageway which are flexible andresilient. The normal width PW of the passageway 157 at the lips 153BLand 155BL is slightly less than the diameter of the stem 171 at thelevel of the lips such that the stem 171 can be manually pushed throughthe passageway 157 moving the lips 153BL and 155BL aside or out of theway to allow the stem to be located in the opening 159. The lips 153BLand 155BL then will move inward toward each other to retain theiroriginal state or position normally preventing the stem 171 from movingout of the opening 159. Thus the stem 171 is held in the opening 159 andthe shelf 147 supports the housing 163 in the cavity 141C below theupper wall 143 (during its intended use) in accordance with themanufacturer's recommendations. The transponder device 161 may beremoved by pulling the stem 171 through the passageway 157 to force theflexible or resilient lips 153BL and 155BL out of the way allowing thestem 171 to be removed from the stem opening 159 and the housing 163 outof the cavity 141C.

For the stem 171 having a diameter of about 1.75 of an inch at the levelof the lips 153BL and 155BL, the passageway 157 may have a quiescent orat rest width PW (See FIG. 11) of about 1 11/16 of an inch. For the wall174 (formed of medium density polyethylene) having a thickness Z1 about⅜ of an inch, each lip 153BL, 155BL has an at rest dimension Z2 of about2.5/16″ and an at rest dimension X of between about 1/32″ and ⅙″ (SeeFIG. 19). The lips extend to a thin line at 153BL at the top level ofthe shelf 174. Referring to FIG. 11, the dimension Y is about ½″. Bypushing the stem through the passageway 157 against the lips 153BL and155BL, the lips will be pushed out of the way, as shown in dotted linesin FIG. 19, allowing the housing to be inserted into or removed from theopening after which the lips 153BL and 155BL will return to theirquiescent state. For a transponder 161 having a housing or head outsidediameter of 6¾″ and a maximum housing height of about 11/16″, thediameter of the cavity 41C will be a little greater than 6¾″, sufficientto easily receive the housing 163, and its height may be about 15/16″.These dimensions may vary depending on the size of the transponder. Theopening 141, cavity 141C, and the walls 153A, 155A, 153B, 155B, opening159, and the lips 153BL and 155BL are formed during the molding process,and touched up with a router bit if desired.

Referring to FIGS. 22 and 23, the lid is identified by reference numeral181. It is compression molded from a suitable plastic material such asmedium density polyethylene. The lid comprises an upper side having aflat or planar upper surface 181U and a lower side having a flat orplanar lower surface 181L. The edge of the lid comprises a surroundingflange 187 with a lower edge 189 spaced inward from the outer edge 187Eof the flange 187. The lower edge 189 has two straight sides 189A and189B and two rounded sides 189B and 189C. The flange 187 comprises twostraight portions 187EA and 187EB and two rounded portions 187EC and187ED.

The lid 181 is small in area within the edges 187E and 189 and has asingle recess 201 formed in its lower side 181L during the moldingprocess to enhance curing of the plastic material during the formingprocess and hence to minimize breakage of the lid. The recess 201 issimilar to either of recesses 123, 125, 127 but it has differentdimensions. In this respect the recess 201 has two trapezoid sides 201S1and 201S2 and two triangular shaped sides 201S3 and 201S4 which flareoutward to the surface 187L from an elongated apex 201A. The lid 181between the surfaces of recess 201 and the top surface is solid plastic.

An opening 241 extends inward below the flange 187 from the side 189D toa cavity 241C which is the only cavity formed in the lid. The opening241 comprises an upper wall 243, extending from side 189D and a lowerwall 247 which forms a shelf. The cavity 241C is defined by walls 243and 247 and wall 241CC. The lower wall 247 has an opening 251 defined bywall portions 253A and 255A which extend inward and lead to side walls253B and 255B defining a passageway 257 which leads to a base opening259. The purpose of the cavity 241C is to receive the housing of atransponder device of the type shown in FIG. 18. to be supported by theshelf 247 with the stem of the transponder device extending downwardthrough the stem opening 259 with the top of the transponder devicespaced from the wall 243 the desired amount.

A snap or pressure fit is provided for normally holding the stem 171 ofthe transponder device 161 in the opening 259 and hence the housing 163of the transponder device 161 in the cavity 241C in a manner similarwith that of the embodiment of FIG. 11-21. This is accomplished byforming thin lips 253BL and 255BL in the side edges 253B and 255B at thebottom shelf on each side of the passageway which are flexible andresilient. The normal width of the passageway 157 at the lips 253BL and255BL is slightly less than the diameter of the stem 171 at the level ofthe lips such that the stem 171 can be manually pushed through thepassageway 257 moving the lips 253BL and 255BL aside which then willmove inward toward each other to retain their original state or positionnormally preventing the stem 171 from moving out of the opening 259during its intended use. Thus the stem 171 is held in the opening 259which holds the head 163 in the cavity 241C. The transponder device 161may be removed or inserted by pulling or pushing the stem 171 throughthe passageway 257 to force the flexible lips 253BL and 255BL out of theway allowing the stem 171 to be inserted or removed into or from theopening 259 and the head 165 into or out of the cavity 241C. Thedimensions of the lips 253BL and 255BL may be similar to those of theembodiment of FIGS. 11-21 and may be spaced apart the same amount asthose of the embodiment of FIGS. 11-21.

A shallow half round recess 261 is formed in the lower surface 181L toreceive equipment. An aperture 263 is formed through the upper wall 261of the recess 261 and hence through the lid.

The lid 181 between the surfaces of recess 201 and its upper surface is181U solid plastic. The total surface area of the surface 181L outsideof the recesses 201 and 261 and outside of the maximum lateralboundaries of the cavity 241 is greater than the areas of the recesses201 and 261 in the plane of the surface 181L. The opening 241, cavity241C walls 253A, 255A, 253B, 255B, lips 253BL, 255BL and opening areformed during the molding process and touched up with a router bit ifdesired.

Referring to FIGS. 24-30, the lid 401 is formed of plastic material andis circular in shape, having a bottom side 403 and a top side 405. Thetop side 405 and bottom side 403 are generally flat. The edge of the lidcomprises a surrounding flange 407 with a lower edge 409 spaced inwardfrom the outer edge 407E of the flange 407.

An elongated rectangular shaped recess 421 is formed in the lowersurface 403 during the molding process. The recess 421 comprises twogenerally flat sides 425 and 427 which flare outward to the surface 403from a center line 429 and two triangular shaped surfaces 431 and 433which flare outward to the surface 403 from opposite ends of the line429. Each of the sides 425 and 427 is trapezoidal in shape and togetherthey define an angle of about 90 degrees and form a triangle with theplane of the surface 403 as seen in the cross-section of FIG. 30.

Also provided is an elongated rectangular shaped recess 471 which isformed in surface 403. The recess 471 comprises two parallel elongatedsides 473 and 475A, 475B and two parallel sides 477 and 479. Sides 473,475A, 475B and 477 are perpendicular to the surface 403. The recess 471in cross-section as seen in FIG. 29, is saw-tooth in shape having twosurfaces 481 and 483 which are oblique relative to the surface 403 and asurface 485 which is perpendicular relative to surface 403. The lid 401between the surfaces of recesses 421 and 471 and its upper surface 405is solid plastic.

In addition, a recess 491 is formed in the surface 403 for holding alock 493.

In one embodiment, the diameter of the flange 407 is about 12⅜ inchesand the diameter of the edge 409 and hence of the surface 403 is about11 inches. The widths and depth of the recess 421 is about 1½ and ¾inches respectively. The lengths of the recess 421 is about 8½. Thelength and width of the recess 471 are about 6¼ and 2½ inchesrespectively. The dimensions of the slanted surfaces 481 and 483 alongthe length of the recess 471 are about 1½ and 3½ inches and the verticaldimension of surface 485 is about ½ inches. The length and width of therecess 491 are about 3½ inches and 3 inches respectively. The thicknessof the lid from surface 403 to surface 405 is about 1¼ inches. Twoprongs 495 extend outward from surface 403 spaced from the flange 407.

Formed in the edge 409 is an opening 501 which extends inward below theflange 407 and the top surface 405 to a rounded cavity 501C which is theonly cavity formed in the lid. The cavity 501C is defined by a side wall503, the wall portion 405A of the lid which is below the surface 405which is level with the bottom of the flange 407 and a lower shelf 505which follows the side wall 503 and extends a limited distance therefromto define a shelf to removably hold a transponder device. The lowershelf 505 extends a limited distance to define an open portion 507 whichleads to a central portion 507C.

The opening 507 is defined by wall portions 507A and 507B which havethin flexible and resilient lips 507AL and 507BL which act in the samemanner as lips 153BL and 155BL to allow passage of the stem 171 into thecentral portion 507C of the opening 507 (by manually applying pressureto the stem) and hence the housing into the cavity 501C to normally holdthe housing 163 (during its intended use) of the transponder device inthe cavity 501C supported by the shelf 505, spaced from the lid wall405A a sufficient amount and allows it to be removed by pressure appliedthereto if desired.

On the top side 405, shallow recess 521 is formed in the surface 405 andwhich coincides with the position of the opening 501 to allow anaperture to be formed through the lid at this position if desired toallow a signal receiver and transmitter to extend through the lid fromthe utility box if the utility company wants to use this type of meterreading facility.

The lid of FIGS. 24-30 is compression molded from a plastic materialsuch as medium density polyethylene. The recesses 421 and 471 are formedduring the molding process to enhance curing of the plastic during theforming process to minimize breakage of the lid. The lock 493 of the lidis attached after the molding process.

The opening 501, cavity 501C, opening 507, walls 507A, 507B, and lips507AL and 507BL are formed during the molding process, and touched upwith a router bit if desired. The dimensions of the lips 507AL and 507BLmay be similar to those of the embodiment of FIGS. 11-21 and spacedapart the same amount as those of the embodiment of FIGS. 11-21.

Load tests were carried out on the lid of FIGS. 11-21, 22, 23; and 24-30in a manner similar to those described in connection with the lids ofFIGS. 1-10 and the results were that the lid of FIGS. 11-21 withstood aload of 20,730 pounds; the lid of FIGS. 22, 23 withstood a load of20,675 pounds; and the lid of FIGS. 24-30 withstood a load of 8,565pounds.

1. A lid for a utility box, comprising: a member molded from a plasticmaterial and having spaced apart upper and lower sides, said lower sidecomprising a lower surface having an outer edge, an opening formed insaid outer edge of said member by wall structure and leading to a cavityfor holding a transponder device, the transponder device is of the typehaving a stem extending from a housing, said opening having a portionfor receiving the stem of the transponder device such that the housingmay be located in said cavity by way of said opening with the stemextending through said portion of said opening, said opening having apassageway with a width normally less than the width of the stem whichpassageway may be expanded by pressure applied to said wall structure bythe stem to allow the stem to be moved through said passageway to allowinsertion and removal of the stem into and from said portion of saidopening by way of said passageway, when the stem is located in saidportion of said opening, the pressure applied to said wall structure isreleased such that said wall structure will hold the stem in saidportion of said opening and hence the housing in said cavity.
 2. The lidof claim 1, wherein: said passageway comprises a wall formed of plasticmaterial having a thin portion of plastic material which extends intosaid passageway in an at rest portion to define a minimum width of saidpassageway and which can be moved to a position to expand the width ofsaid passageway by pressure applied to said thin portion of plasticmaterial by the stem of the transponder to allow passage of the stemthrough said passageway and when said pressure is released, said thinportion of plastic material returns to said at rest position.
 3. The lidof claim 1, wherein: said passageway comprises two spaced apart wallportions formed of plastic material each of which comprises a thinportion of plastic material which extends into said passageway at an atrest position to define the minimum width of said passageway and whichcan be moved to a position to expand the width of said passageway bypressure applied to said thin portions of plastic material by the stemof the transponder to allow passage of said stem through said passagewayand when said pressure is released said thin portions of plasticmaterial return to said at rest positions.
 4. The lid of claim 1,wherein: said outer edge extends around said member next to said lowerside and which faces outward of said member, said lower surface iscontiguous with said outer edge at least on two opposite sides of saidouter edge.
 5. The lid of claim 1, wherein: said outer edge comprises afirst pair of spaced apart outer edges which face in opposite directionfrom each other outward from said member and a second pair of spacedapart outer edges which face in opposite directions from each otheroutward from said member, said first pair of outer edges are transverseto said second pair of opposite edges, said lower surface extends to andis contiguous with said first and second pairs of outer edges.
 6. Thelid of claim 1 in combination with a transponder of the type having astem extending from a housing with said stem having a size sufficientfor expanding said passageway when moved therethrough to allow insertionand removal of said stem into and from said portion of opening.